Improvement in lightning-rods



-. J. H. WESTON.

LIGHTNING-Ron. No.174,451. :Patented March 7,1876.

ATTORNEYS.

vN. PETERS, PNOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGEo JAMES H. WESTON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 174,451, dated March 7, 1876; Aapplication filed February 5, 1876.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that JAMES H. WESTON, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Discharging- Point for Lightning-Rods, of which the following is a specification My invention consists of discharging-points for lightning-rods, made of sheet-copper, or other suitable material, and of a size to correspond with the size of the building to be protected, the tips of the sheets being so constructed that the sheets will spread out when being forced into the earth, and give a large metallic surface in contact with the earth. The sheets or plates will preferably be bent into concave or luted form, and may be plain or corrugated, and Will be attached to pointed rods by a pivot or swivel, and on cable-rods it will be attached by a thimble.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved discharging point. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a rod, to the lower end of which I propose to apply a discharging-point composed ,of thin plates, B, of copper, or other suitable metal, said plates being concaved to tit on the v rod, and of suitable width to extend partly around and overlap each other, with points O bent outward, so that when the point is pressed into the ground the plates will spread out radially and present a large metallic surface in contact with the earth, for discharging more rapidly and easily than the common points, Which consist merely ot' the lower termination ot' the rods. l

In this example the plates are screwed to a thimble, D, which is fastened on a pivot, E, by a nut, F, so that thev point can turn a little, if necessary, While being driven into the ground; but I do not limit myself to any particular Way of attaching the point.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A lightning-rod discharging-point consisting of strips of sheet metal attached to the rod by a thimble or other device, said plates being concave or iluted, and pointed and bent at the lower extremity, to cause them to spread outward and make large metallic contact with the ground when driven in, substantially as specied.

JAMES H. WESTON. Witnesses JOHN CALVIN FAY, EDWARD A. FAY, 

